Mechanism of saxophones



Feb. 4, 1930. c. s. MACDONALD MECHANISM OF SAXOPHQNES Filed April 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 4, 1930. c. s. MACDONALD MECHANISM OF SAXOPHNES I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26. 1926 Patented Feb. d, 193@ RTET OFFICE CHARLES SDNEY MACDONALD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND MECHANISM OF SAXOPHONES Application filed April 26, 1926, Serial No. 104,766, and in Great Britain August 21, 1925.

rl"his invention relates to improvements in saxophones and like wind instruments in which vents are closed or opened by the movements of tampions operated by keys so as to close and open the vents in di'llerent combinations and thus to cause the instrument to sound the required notes.

The said invention comprises means wliereby movement of selected tampions causes simultaneous movement of other tampions so that by operating only a single key two or more of the tampions may be moved to the open or closed position in a predetermined combination. The improved means for coupling the tampions so as to cause them to move simultaneously., can be advantageously applied to the tampions of vents opened to produce notes at the upper end of the compass of the instrument, and by means of this invention the tampions of selected groups of vents can be coupled so that when any vent in the selected group is opened, the vents below it, i. e. nearer to the bell of the instrument, and comprised in the same group, are also opened. Similarly the tampions can be coupled so that when any vent in a selected group is closed, the vents above it, i. e. nearer the mouth-piece,and comprised in the same group, are also closed.

The accompanying drawings show how the said invention can be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice. ln this drawing Figure 1 is a part 0i' the tube of the instrument developed or opened out to show flatly the tampions,` keys and connections arranged in accordance with this invention, omitting some of the keys and connections which are not affected by the improvements herein dcscribed.

Figure 2 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 1, provided with an additional tampion and key in the upper register.

Figures 3, 1 and 5 respectively show modilied arrangements of some or" the keys of the instrument illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 respectively illustrate a modified arrangement orn the tampions and keyssiutable for an instruinent in whichthe vents of the upper notes are arranged in a straight line.

Figure 9 illustrates an arrangement hereinaicter described.

Referring to Figure 1, a series of tampions, indicated by the numerals 1 to 13 inclusive, are provided respectively covering the vents of the instrument, the tampion 1 being nearest to the mouth-piece. Each of the tampions is acted upon by a spring in the usual manb ner, the tampion 1 being a closed tampion which can be opened by means of a barrel arm 14, barrel 15 and key 16. rlhe tampion 2 is a closed tampion opened by a key 17 or alternatively it can be opened by a lever 18 carried on a barrel 19 and moved to raise the tampion 2 by a bar 2O and key 21. The key 21 is an additional key enabling the tampion 2 to be opened by right hand fingering as well as by left hand fingering. The tampion 3 is opened by means of a spring but is normally held closed by a barrel arm 22 raised by a stronger spring, and depressed to allow the tampion 3 to open by means of a key 23 pressed against the said arm 22. The key 23 is carried on a barrel 24 movable independently of the barrel 25 carrying the tampion 3. The barrel arm 22 is mounted on a barrel 26 carrying an arm 27 depressed by an arm 23 on a barrel 29 from which a second arm 30 prou jects above a key-lever 31 so that when Vthis 4key lever -is depressed the barrel arm 22 is likewise depressed to allow the tampion 3 to open. Thus means are provided for opening the tampion 3 alone either by a finger of the right hand or a linger of the left hand.

The barrel arm 22 extends below and in contact with the key 17 so that when the tampion 2 is opened the tampion 3 opens simultaneously. Moreover the lever 13 extends below the tampion lever 1 so that when the tampion 1 is opened by the key 16, the tampions 2 and 3 are simultaneously opened.

The tampion el is an open tampion carried on a barrel 32 supporting a bar 33 having an arm 34 which extends below and in contact with the lever of a key 35, so that when the key 35 is depressed the tampion t is closed. The tampion 5 is closed by a key 36 and the lever-of this tampionextends under the bar lll@ STP 14 33 to also close the tampion 4. The tampion 6 is closed by a petal'key 6, by the key 35 or by a bar 38 carried on a barrel 39 having an arm projecting below a coupler 41 projecting from the tampion 10 which is closed whenever any one of the tampions 11, 12, 13 are closed, the levers of the tampions extending below a bar 42 extending tothe barrel 43 of the tampion 10. rIlhe tampion 7 is closed by the key 35 mounted on the same barrel.

TvVhen either of the tampions 4, 5 or 7 is closed the bar 33 is rocked so that the arm 34 depresses an arm ot a lever 44 carried on a barrel and arranged so that if the tampion 3 is open when either ot the tampions 4, 5 or 7 close, the lever 44 will move the tampion 3 to its closed position, but when the tampions 4 and 5 are opened the lever 44 does not obstruct the opening movement of the tampion 3. @n depressing the tampion 6 a coupler 46 acts similarly on the lever 44 to close the tampion 3. As above mentioned, the tampion 6 can be closed by the keys 6, 35 or by the keys of one of the tampions 11, 12, 13 so that the tampion 3 can be held closed by fingers of the right hand or ot the left hand, as most convenient.

Nhen the invention is applied to a saxophone, the tampion 1 may correspond to the top Ef; vent, the tampion 2 to the top El; vent and the tampion 3 to the top Da vent. Then, when the key 16 is depressed the En, Eb and Dl; vents open simultaneously thus providing for the fingering ot top Fil; by the depression of one key alone instead ot1 requiring the depression of three separate keys. By depressing either the key 21 or the key 17 the Eb and D'; vents are opened, and by depressing either the key 23 or key 31 the Da vent alone is opened. f

Whilst additional means for fingering some of the notes are thus provided, each of these notes can still, if required, be fingered in the usual manner as on instruments as heretofore constructed. Moreover by means otl the barrel lever 44 when the vents 'for sounding Ct, Cb, Blz; and Bb are closed, the Db, is also closed.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 2, an additional tampion 47 is provided nearer to theV mouthpiece of the instrument than the tampion 1. In this case the tampion 47 which is a closed tampion carried on a barrel 48, can be opened by depressing its key 49 and then moves a lever 50 by means of a coupler 51 to open the tampions 1 and 2 and consequently the tampion 3. The lever passes above the tampion lever 1 so that this tampion can be opened by depressing the key 16 acting through the barrel 15 and barrel arm 52. The lever 50 then opens the tampions 1, 2 and 3 without opening the tampion 47, the lever 50 passing below a bridge in the lever of this tampion. rIhe rest of the keys in this arrangement are disposed, for example, in a similar manner to the corresponding parts in Figure 1, or, as shown in Figure 2, invvhich the alternative key 21 of the tampion 2 is omitted. Also, in Figure 2 the barrel 29 is moved by a lever on the barrel of tampion 13 so that the key 31 is dispensed with, the tampions 11 and 12 moving the bar 42 for closing the tampion 6.

The lever 44a, comprising two arms carried on a barrel 45a, takes the place of the lever 44 in Figure 1, and extends below the key 36 and the petal key 6", a bar 33a being arranged to extend above the lever of the key 35 for closing the tampion 4. In this case also the lever 44il supports the lever of tampion 3 whenever any of the tampions 4, 5, 6 or 7 is closed. The key 49 is carried clear of the lever 44. Obviously the arrangements of the levers 44 and 44a are interchangeable.

A modiied arrangement of the key 35 oi' Figure 1 is shown at 35CL in Figure 3 in which the lever of this key acts on an extension 53 ot the bar 33 instead of acting on the arm 34.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, a bar 54 extends below the levers of the tampions 5 and 6, so as to be depressed by the closing of either of the said tampions whereby an arm 55 acting on the lever 44 causes the simultaneous closing of the tampion 3.

In place of the arm 22 for holding the tampion 3 closed, t-he barrel 24,'Figure 5, may be provided with a sufficiently strong spring. The nger key 23 is then provided with arms 56, 57, respectively extending above the levers of the tampions 2, 3. Then, when the key 23 is depressed the tampion 3 is opened by a spring, and when the key is released the tampion is closed by the spring of the key which is stronger than the tampion spring. The lifting of the arm 56 does not atleet the tampion 2 but when the key 17 is depressed the tampion 2 in opening raises the arm 56 and permits the tampion 3 to open.

The improved means for coupling the tampions so as to move simultaneously can be adapted to instruments in which the vents of the high notes are arranged in a straight line. In Figure 6, the `top tampion 47 is opened by a key 49 opening in successi-on the tampion 1 by the coupler 53 which opens the tampion 2 by the coupler 59. A'Ihe key 17 of f the tampion 2 depresses a key 23 which in turn depresses an arm 22 thrust upwardly by a stronger spring than that opera-ting to open the tampion 3. When the thrust of the arm 22 is removed the tampion 3 opens. The tampion 1 lifted bythe key 16 leaves the tampion 47 closed and opens tampions 2 and 3 also. The key 17 opens tampions 2 and 3 whilst the key 23 opens tampion 3 only. n

lThe tampion 4 in Figure 6 is closed by a key 35a acting through a bar 33 which is raised when the key is depressed, this bar being also raised by the depression of either of the tampions 5 or 6. The closing of the tampions 5 or 6 separately or together closes the tampion 3 by depressing an arm 60 on the barrel 61 carrying the said tampion 3.

A modification ot the arrangement last described is illust-rated in Figure 7 in which the key 23 rests on the tampion 3 at 62 but is not otherwise connected to it. When the key 23 is lifted off the tampion 3 the latter is raised by a spring. The lever oitl the tampion 3 is connected by a bar 63 to an arm 64. On closing the tampion 4 the arm of the bar 33 closes the tampion 3; the tampions 5 and 6 close the tampion 3 by pressing down the arm 64 of the bar 63. A coupler 65 on the tampion 4, Figure 8, closes the tampion 3; the tampion 5 acts through the bar 33 to close the tampions 4 and 3.

The key lever 31 may be arranged to extend Linder the key of the tampion 13 so that by closing the tampion 13 the tampion 3 is opened but the lever 31 can be depressed alone as shown in Figure 9.

While the keys for playing any ot the notes from middle E to upper C are being operated, the fingering for the top D can be held by the keys 31 or 23, the vent opening when the keys for sounding the group E to C are released. It Cit occurs in any passage whilst the fingering for top D is held in the manner above mentioned, Cit may be lingered by depressing one of the keys 11 or 12 to close the tampion 6, or by closing this tampion by direct iingering, whereby the tam pion 3 is also closed.

As a further example, middle Da and its octave above, middle D3 and again the upper Dl:I may be executed by holding the key 17 throughoutJ the passage.

The shake on top Cit, Dt is executed by holding the lingering for top Cit and shaking key 17 (or 21 in Figure 1). The shake Db, Eh is executed by holding the fingering for Dk; and shaking key 16. The shake Eb, F hl is executed by holding lingering for Eb by key 17 and sha-king key 49.

.1 claim 1. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series ot' key operated tampions 'tor opening and closing vent-s corresponding to a group of successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions ot the lower notes are normally open, having in combination therewith a spring urged barrel arm which is rocked when any of the upper note tampions is opened to allow the lowest normally closed tampion to open and a lever moved when any of the lower note tampions is closed cooperating with said barrel arm to positively close the said lowest normally closed tampion.

Q. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series of key operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a group ot successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions of the lower notes are normally open, a weak spring for holding the lowest normally closed tampion in its open posit-ion, a barrel arm acted upon by a spring to overcome the weak spring and hold the tampion last mentioned in its closed position, means for rocking the said barrel arm to allow the lowest normally closed tampion to open when any of the higher note tampions are opened, and a lever moved when any lower note tampion is closed cooperating with said barrel arm to positively close the said lowest normally closed tampion.

3. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series of key operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a group or" successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions ot the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions ot the lower notes are normally open, a spring urged barrel arm which is rocked to allow the lowest normally closed tampion to open when any ot the upper note tampions are opened, a kev for thus rocking the said barrel arm independently of the opening ot any upper note tampion, and a lever moved when any ot the sald lower note tampions is closed cooperating with said barrel arm to positively close the said lowest normallyv closed tampion.

4. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising` a series of key operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a. group of successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions of the lower notes are normally open, a spring urged barrel arm which is rocked to allow the lowest normally closed tampion to open when any of the upper note tampions is opened, keys respectively arranged in the key groups actuated by different hands of the instrumentalist and eiiective for thus roc-king the said barrel arm independently of the movement ot' any tampion of the said group ot successive notes, and a lever moved when any of the said lower note tampions is closed to positively close the said lowest normally closed tampion.

5. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series of key operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a. group of successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions of the lower notes are normally open.v a spring urged barrel arm which is rocked to allow the lowest normally closed tampion to open when any of the upper note tampions are opened, a lever moved when any of the lower note tampions is closed cooperating with said barrel arm to positively close the said lowest normally closed tampion, and

keys respectively arranged one in eachofthe Iso key groups actuated by diilerent hands of the instrumentalist and effective for closing one oi the said normally open tampions.

6. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series orn key operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a group of successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions of the lower notes are normally open, key connections overlapped so that the opening of any upper note tampion alone effects simultaneously the opening of all the tampions below it down to and including the lowest normally closed tampion, a spring urged barrel arm by which the lowest normally closed tampion is moved to its closed position and a lever moved when any the said lower note tampiong is close-fl to positively close the said lowest norma loe-.eu

tampion.

7. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series of ke y operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a group of successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions of the lower notes are normally open, a weak spring for moving the lowest normally closed tampion to its open position, a barrel arm acted upon by a spring to hold the last mentioned tampion in its closed position, a key for rocking the barrel arm from its tampion closing position, and a lever moved when any lower note tampiou is closed cooperating with said barrel arm to simultaneously close the lowest normally closed tampion against the action of the said weak spring.

S. A saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series of key operated tampions for opening and closing vents corresponding to a group of successive notes of the chromatic scale arranged so that the tampions of the upper notes are normally closed and the tampions ot the lower notes are normally open. a key' connection for closing the first tampion below the lowest normally closed tampion when the second tampion below the lowest normally closed tampion is closed, a key connection for closing the first, second and third tampions below the lowest normally closed tampion when the fourth tampion below theY lowest normally closed tampion is closed, a spring urged barrel arm which is rocked when any of the upper note tampions vis opened to allow the lowest normally closed tions whereby the El; and D tainpions are opened when the En tampion is opened and the Da tampion is opened when the El; tampion is opened, a spring urged key operated barrel arm arranged to close the D tampion, and a lever whereby the tampion En is positively Vclosed independently of the'opening'of the En and Eb tampions when any of the normally open tampions top Cit Cb, Bh and Bb are closed.

l0. A saxophone or like musical instrunient comprising a series of key Voperated normally closed tampions corresponding to the notes top El; En Eb and Dbl, overlapping key connections whereby opening of any or' these tampions ell'ects the opening of all the said tampions below it, a spring urged key operated barrel arm arranged to close the E lq tampion lever whereby the tampion Dh is positively closed independently of the opening of the tampions Fh Eh and Eb when any of the normally open tampions top Clt Ca Bla and Bb are closed.

CHARLES SIDNEY MACDONALD.

tampion to open and a lever moved when any i 'of the lower note tampions is closed cooperating with said barrel arm to lpositively close the said lowest normally closed tampion.

9'. A 'saxophone or like musical instrument comprising a series of key operated normally closed tampilons correspondingto the notes top Eq, Eb and Dh, overlapped key connec- 

